There’s more at stake than just three points on Wednesday evening as Everton host Premier League leaders Liverpool for the final time at Goodison Park. Both sides will head into the game looking to return to winning ways after the Reds and the Blues crashed out of the FA Cup at the weekend.
By Sam McGuire
Changes since December
This game was initially scheduled for the first weekend of December. However, the havoc caused by Storm Darragh forced the Premier League to rearrange this tie.
Everton now head into this clash in much better form.
Back then, the Toffees had won just one of their previous five matches heading into the December clash. Sean Dyche’s side were struggling for goals having scored just four in those five outings.
Fast forward two months and David Moyes’ Everton have won three of their last five across all competitions, scoring eight goals in the process. They are nine points clear of the drop zone and despite a disappointing home defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday, things seem much more positive at Goodison Park at the minute.
Liverpool haven’t been as relentless over recent weeks because they haven’t needed to be. They’re six points clear at the summit with this game in hand. They topped the Champions League group stage which allowed them to rest players against PSV Eindhoven and having reached the Carabao Cup final, Arne Slot decided to make nine changes to his XI for the (still a) shock FA Cup defeat against Plymouth.
The important thing here is that the Reds are winning the games they have to win.
Bragging rights and more
Nobody wants to lose a derby.
Everton will be even more desperate than usual to avoid defeat though.
This is the final Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park. They aren’t going to go out on a whimper. They will want to go out on a high, all while seriously denting Liverpool’s title hopes.
The Reds will want to extend their lead at the top to nine points. They’ll want to extend their unbeaten run. Slot will want to win his first Merseyside derby too, all while looking to stop Everton from making it back-to-back wins against their Stanley Park neighbours. So there’s lots at stake.
But there’s something else to factor in. A win for Liverpool would be their 100th against Everton. Can you imagine the bragging rights if they achieve that? They strengthen their title charge while etching themselves into history having won the final derby at Goodison, while also racking up their 100th win over the Blues.
The Mohamed Salah show continues
Salah has been the best player in the Premier League this season.
He’s already on 34 goal involvements this term, that’s one more than Cole Palmer, the most productive player in the league last season, managed during the 2023/24 campaign. He leads the way for goals (21) and assists (13).
Slot made the decision to rest his No. 11 for the match against Plymouth and if recent form is anything to go off, Everton should be worried.
Salah had the international break off before a brace against Southampton. He had the Carabao Cup game off before a brace and two assists versus Spurs in the 6-3 win, and missed the Champions League game against PSV before scoring twice against Bournemouth.
After missing a game, Salah always seems to deliver.
And if this is to be his final season with the Reds, he’ll want to go out on a high in the derby. Only Ian Rush (13), Steven Gerrard (nine) and Harry Chambers (eight) have scored more league goals for Liverpool against Everton than Salah (seven).
Favourable timing for Liverpool
Liverpool’s injuries have cleared up.
Slot is expected to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the Merseyside derby, with the right-back a doubt, but everyone else is available for the Dutchman.
Moyes is having no such luck. Everton have a number of players on the treatment table with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dwight McNeil, Orel Mangala, Seamus Coleman, Youssef Chermiti all missing this clash.
The Blues aren’t spoilt for choice but Moyes does still have players at his disposal to make life difficult for Liverpool and he’ll be looking to do just that in his first Merseyside derby back in the Goodison Park dugout.
Prediction
Both sides need to make amends for their FA Cup exits. Both are in good form back in the league and both will be out to win rather than playing to avoid defeat. The home crowd will be up for this which could level the playing field a bit. We’re going to go with a 2-2 draw though.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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